Congressman Joe Baca, D-Rialto, has cautioned state officials not to intercept billions of dollars in State Fiscal Stabilization Funds designated for local school districts.

Baca and 27 other Democrats signed their names to a letter informing Gov. Schwarzenegger, Secretary of Education Glen Thomas and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell that the $4.8 billion coming to the state under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is to be used by local education agencies as they see fit.

The letter, which was sent to the governor in March, said the purpose of the funds is “to minimize or avoid harmful cuts to education programs and services, to keep teachers in the classroom, and to support modernization, renovation and repair of school facilities.”

A spokesman for Baca said Friday the letter was intended to implore the governor not to hold the funds.

“The feeling was, the local agencies are worrying about the state delaying the money,” John Lowrey said.

The state Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended that the money be used to offset a General Fund shortfall of $8 billion for fiscal 2009-10, and a projected $12.6 billion shortfall for fiscal 2010-11.

“The reality is, the General Fund budget is ultimately connected to school districts, so if state revenue goes south, school districts go south too,” said Jennifer Kuhn, office director of K-12 education.

But in a response to the representatives, Thomas wrote that it is the intent of the governor to disperse the money quickly to local education agencies.

“It is the hope that these funds will immediately help prevent teacher layoffs in our (local education agencies),” Thomas wrote.

The U.S. Department of Education awarded state governors about $48.6 billion to help improve education and stabilize state budgets in order to reduce cuts in the classroom.

The funds would funnel through state education formula to reach local districts, according to the department.

Two-thirds of the funding is expected by mid-to-late April, with the remainder expected by the end of September, according to the analyst’s office.